Journal of science and medicine in sport最新文献

Objectives: Elite athletes are more commonly returning to sport after pregnancy. Whilst research and policies to support athletes after pregnancy are increasing, understanding the lived experiences of United Kingdom (UK) elite athletes as they return to sport remains limited. This study aimed to examine the experiences and perspectives of UK elite athletes from a range of sports on the postpartum period and the return to sport.

Design: A descriptive qualitative approach utilising semi-structured interviews.

Methods: Online interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams with elite athletes living in the UK, who trained and/or competed at the highest level of their sport prior to and/or during pregnancy. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Eleven athletes participated in the study. Four key themes were generated: (1) Navigating Mother-Athlete Identity, (2) Preparation to Return to Sport, (3) Personal Support and Inspiration, and (4) Systemic Support. Findings showed that UK athletes must navigate both identity shifts and practical challenges in their return to sport postpartum. Observing other female athletes make this transition provided encouragement to the participants. Support from the athlete's immediate community and broader sporting organisations played a critical role. Access to specific supports and resources, such as pragmatic return-to-sport timelines, nutritional guidance, and maternity leave policies that safeguarded funding, positively impacted the postpartum return to sport.

Conclusions: High-quality research to continue to inform guidelines for elite athletes returning to sport and developing maternity leave policies specific for all athletes in the UK need to be prioritised. This is to ensure that athletes are properly supported during postpartum and can resume their careers.

Objectives: To evaluate potential head injuries across three consecutive FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups held between 2019 and 2024.

Methods: All match footage from the 2019, 2021, and 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups (men only tournaments) were evaluated focusing on occurrence of a potential head injury, player actions (including overhead kick), and visible signs of a possible concussion.

Results: A total of 309 potential head injuries were identified across 96 matches (3.2/match), with an incidence of 527.8 potential head injuries per 1000 match-hours. In total, 17.5 % (n = 54) of potential head injuries were associated with overhead kicks, 17.9 % (n = 55) demonstrated a visible sign of a possible concussion (involving 51 different players), and 25.3 % (n = 78) occurred during aerial duels. Ball-related head impacts accounted for 15.5 % of all potential head injuries, rising to 46.3 % in overhead kick-related potential head injuries and 34.6 % among potential head injuries with visible signs of a possible concussion. Eighty-nine potential head injuries (28.9 %) were evaluated by medical staff, 27 (49.1 %) of the 55 players with visible signs of a possible concussion were not medically evaluated.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that the incidence of potential head injuries in beach soccer is 3.2 per-match, which is 7.6× higher than the data previously reported in men's association football. Player-to-player impact, unintentional ball impacts and overhead kicks contributed significantly to this elevated incidence. The observation that 17.9 % of potential head injuries exhibited visible signs of possible concussion highlights the need for future studies that incorporate clinical evaluations to improve understanding of these potential head injuries.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of long-term, individualised exercise at the maximal fat oxidation intensity (Fatmax) during different menstrual cycle phases on lipid metabolism and body composition in women with normal weight obesity.

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Methods: A total of 48 women with normal weight obesity (18-30 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to the follicular phase, luteal phase, or control groups. Following baseline testing, all participants completed an 8-week treadmill exercise intervention at individualised Fatmax intensities. The control group exercised four times weekly, whilst the follicular and luteal phase groups completed three additional sessions during the late follicular and mid-luteal phases, respectively. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included body morphology, fasting blood biomarkers, V̇O₂max, and Fatmax intensity.

Results: After 8 weeks, both experimental groups showed significant improvements in V̇O₂max (p < 0.01) and body composition. The follicular phase group showed greater reductions in body weight, body mass index (p < 0.05), waist and hip circumference, body fat percentage, and fat mass (p < 0.01) than the luteal and control groups. The luteal phase group also showed significant decreases in hip and waist circumference, body fat percentage, and fat mass (p < 0.05), along with an increased apolipoprotein A-I/apolipoprotein B ratio (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: This study suggests that an 8-week individualised Fatmax exercise intervention is more effective in improving lipid metabolism indicators and body composition during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle than during the luteal phase.

Objectives: The main aim of the present study is to provide insight into the recruitment tactics, and training methods and strategies that professional coaches apply in their day-to-day work to best prepare their athletes for the highest levels of competition.

Design: Expert opinion from semi-structured interview, qualitative.

Methods: The opinion of 15 professional goalkeeper coaches was gathered using a semi-structured interview. Following transcription, a thematic content analysis was conducted to identify and analyse patterns within the data.

Results: Several key considerations emerge that any coach should take into account. 1) When integrating a new goalkeeper into a club, it is essential to assess whether their profile aligns with the club's style of play and philosophy, 2) training should focus both on the goalkeeper's individual development and on preparing them for the challenges posed by upcoming opponents, and 3) coaches must recognise that they are working with individuals rather than a homogeneous group, making it essential to understand and respond to the unique needs of each goalkeeper.

Conclusions: The findings suggested that selecting and training professional goalkeepers is a multifactorial process that requires considering technical, tactical, psychological, physical, playing style and organisational factors.

Objectives: To examine whether menstrual health literacy (MHL) is associated with Australian female footballers' negative perceptions of the menstrual cycle and contraceptive use on athletic performance and availability, and to assess the influence of symptom count on these perceptions.

Design: Cross sectional survey.

Methods: Australian football players (n = 147) completed a survey assessing menstrual cycle characteristics, contraceptive use, perceived impacts on training and competition, and MHL. Associations between MHL and perceived impacts of the menstrual cycle or contraceptive use were analysed. The relationship between symptom count and these perceptions was also examined.

Results: Whilst MHL scores were not significantly associated with perceived impacts of the menstrual cycle on training performance (β = 0.29, 95 % CI [-0.37, 0.97]), a higher number of symptoms were linked to more frequent reports of negative training impacts (β = 0.09, 95 % CI [0.05, 0.14]). Amongst non-contraceptive users, a substantial proportion reported that the menstrual cycle negatively affected their training (67 % 'sometimes'; 21 % 'often') and competition (62 % 'sometimes'; 18 % 'often') performance, as well as training availability (60 % 'sometimes'; 14 % 'often').

Conclusions: No significant association was found between MHL and perceived menstrual cycle impacts in this cohort. However, symptom count emerged as a key factor, with athletes experiencing five or more symptoms more likely to report frequent negative effects on training performance. These findings suggest that addressing symptom recognition and management may be more critical than MHL alone in supporting athlete well-being and performance.

Objectives: This position stand will aim to summarise the effect of different lipid markers on cardiovascular disease (CVD) progression; determine the exercise prescription (ExRx) to optimise favourable lipid profile changes; ascertain if an optimal exercise prescription exists for different types of dyslipidaemias; and provide recommendations for ExRx for dyslipidaemia.

Methods: Synthesis of published literature on exercise training and lipid profiles.

Results: Total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) respond favourably to exercise training, but the effect sizes are moderate compared to lipid lowering medication (LLM). Apolipoproteins respond favourably to exercise training, but less evidence currently exists. A combination (CT) of aerobic (AT) and resistance (RT) training is optimal to improve lipid profile. For dyslipidaemia and hyperlipidaemia, one should consider greater emphasis on AT, whilst for hypoalphalipoproteinemia RT may be prioritised. Lipid changes observed with exercise are modest but offer a valuable complement to dietary therapy and may delay onset or reduce initial dose of dyslipidaemia medication in people treated for primary CVD prevention. Each extra week of exercise training appears to induce a -0.5 mg/dl reduction in TC. Session time, exercise intensity and frequency should be increased in this order for programme progression.

Conclusions: Lipids and apolipoproteins respond favourably to exercise training and the effect size is moderate. Both AT and CT improved all lipids, only HDL was improved with RT, so CT appears optimal. It appears that greater exercise programme volume, defined primarily by longer session (minutes) and programme (weeks) times, and hence cardiorespiratory fitness, seems to lead to further improvements in lipid profile.

Objectives: Exogenous 17β-oestradiol enhances the muscle fibre stiffness measured during contraction in rodents, but the potential impact of the endogenous variations in ovarian hormonal concentrations over the menstrual cycle in humans remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the active mechanical properties of the hamstring muscles change throughout the menstrual cycle or with oral contraceptive use in females.

Design: Cross-sectional study with repeated measures.

Methods: Shear wave elastography measurements were conducted on contracted hamstring muscles during three distinct phases of the menstrual (N = 20) and oral contraceptive (N = 12) cycles. Serum hormonal concentrations (i.e., 17β-oestradiol and progesterone) and electromyographic activity were monitored alongside assessments of maximal voluntary contraction torque.

Results: Maximal isometric voluntary torque remained consistent throughout both the menstrual and oral contraceptive cycles. In eumenorrheic females, the semitendinosus rigidity was greater in the early follicular phase than in the mid luteal phase (p = 0.004, +7.3 %), whereas this pattern was not observed in oral contraceptive users. This reduction in the semitendinosus rigidity during voluntary contraction was significantly correlated with the rise in progesterone concentrations between these phases (p = 0.001, r = -0.46).

Conclusions: Semitendinosus rigidity appears to vary throughout the menstrual cycle. The lack of such variation in oral contraceptive users, combined with the correlation with blood progesterone levels, suggests that this hormone may influence muscle rigidity during contraction. However, as the effect size was small and below the measurement variability, further studies are needed to confirm the specific effects of progesterone on muscle tissue.

Objectives: Influenza vaccination is a key preventive measure, especially for professional athletes exposed to increased infectious risk due to intense physical activity, frequent travel, and close-contact settings. However, data on vaccine uptake and attitudes in this group are limited. This study examined opinions, behaviors, and determinants of influenza vaccination adherence among male athletes in the Italian Serie A volleyball league during the 2024/25 season to inform targeted immunization strategies.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Methods: A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 157 athletes between December 2024 and March 2025. Collected variables included socio-demographic characteristics, vaccination history, perceived influenza risk, vaccination importance, and influencing factors such as medical advice and club policy.

Results: Of 138 respondents (response rate: 87.9 %), 44.9 % intended to vaccinate in the current season, and 63.8 % had been vaccinated previously. Overall, 76.1 % recognized the importance of vaccination. Key motivations were medical recommendations (61.6 %) and club policies (25.4 %). Significant associations were found between perceived influenza risk and vaccination intention (p < 0.001), and between medical recommendation and perceived importance (OR = 3.45, p < 0.01). Age showed no significant association.

Conclusions: Although vaccination is widely regarded as important among professional athletes, adherence is strongly influenced by organizational factors. Medical advice and club support are critical drivers of vaccine acceptance. Tailored communication strategies, integration of vaccination into routine sports medicine, and structured immunization programs are recommended to improve coverage in elite sports and support public health goals.

Objectives: To explore the experiences of people, specifically the acceptability and tolerances of a high and low load-volume (intensity * X sets X repetitions) exercise programme for rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Design: A nested qualitative study with individual in-depth semi-structured interviews.

Methods: Twelve participants (6 high load-volume, 6 low load-volume) were recruited at the conclusion of a pilot and feasibility trial comparing high and low load-volume exercise for rotator cuff tendinopathy. Analysis followed an inductive thematic approach.

Results: Three themes were identified: (1) Intensity: influenced by belief that the treatment will or won't work; (2) adherence: progress reinforced by a positive experience; and (3) education: reassurance and clear instruction regarding pain. Participants expressed initial doubt regarding the rationale behind both the high load-volume intervention and low load-volume intervention (i.e. either too easy or too hard). However, both groups surprised themselves with the improvement they made. Acceptability and tolerance of exercise intensity, either low or high, is are largely influenced by past exercise experience, expectations, attitudes and beliefs regarding the effectiveness of the exercise programme. Findings highlight the acceptability of both approaches for most people with rotator cuff tendinopathy, after some participants were initially apprehensive. Participants expressed the value of practical, informative, condition specific knowledge; the importance of tangible progress with their exercise programme; and appreciation for a low level of burden in adhering to their exercise.

Conclusions: Individualisation of exercise intensity is important, yet needs to consider individual preference, response to the load stimulus and the patients baseline physical capacity.